Thermometer shaker



Patented Sept. 2, 1947 UNITED STATES QF FICEv enErni/OMETERSheltieIt; y Aaron D. .Le Sage, Mantel/21o, Ill.

Application October 23, 194,5, Serial Nogl 16,213,963

ZCIaims. 1

This invention -relates to a device for Wllirling a thermometer to return the vmercury or the like to normal position.

In hospitals, homes, or laboratories, when a thermometer. has lfzeenusedto take a temperature reading, the mercury or other temperature indicating means in the thermometer .has reached a high register. After disinfecting-but before the thermometer could be used again, it is necessary for the user to shake the y'tlierniameter vigorously to return the mercury or the like to normal position; This shaking is annoying and tedious. 'In some instances the shaking 'ha-snot been sufficient to return the thermometer tonormal so that improperfreadings have resulted. Often the shaking capabilities as will later more fully appearand which are inherently possessed by my invention.

While I have shown in the accompanying drawings a preferred embodiment of my invention, yet it is to be understood that the same is susceptible of modification and change without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of my device; Fig. 2 is a top plan View showing method of operation; Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional View of parts grouped in line of assembly; Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of parts assembled and Figs. 5, 6, 7, and 8 are detail sectional views on lines 5 5, -E, 7 7, and 3 8 of Fig. 4 respectively.

The embodiment selected to illustrate my invention comprises a body member Iii, to which is attached a shaft Il extending beyond one end of said body member. A coil spring i2 is mounted on said shaft li. A dog l5 is attached to said spring l2 adjacent its inner portion. A cover member M is mounted on said body member I2, and extends outwardly therebeyond.

A manual member I 5 has a reduced inner end portion I6 extending within the open outer end of cover member I d. Said end portion it has a plurality of spaced teeth V positioned normally to engage dog I3.

Another coil spring I 8 is positioned within manual member l5 with its inner end bearing against shoulder I9 and its outer end against push button 2t slidably mounted at the outer 2v .endofmanualmember l5. Said-spring i3 holds @Ortion If against .dog i3.

Tothe inner. endtof loodyl member .lil is hingedly attached stern 21|. of holder 2 2, thearmslZ of which. are remoyablyand adjilstalvlyattached to thebody. .2.4 .of agcasing ZEYadaptedto removably N hold a thermometerv 26,. A cap .2l is adapted to removably .c lose said .casing v2,5. A clip .23. is mountedloncap 2 7.

llfush. button Zonas .a ,holerl whichy receives Short pin,` .35., to the Vinner por-tion of which is `attached.loop 350i spr-ing l2. Endroap 3?! covers .this pin 3,5, and theend of push vbutton 2t. Dog .I3` normally .engaging one .of teeth ITI prevents undesired unwindine of QOH Spring I2.

Attheextreme end of shaft I,I. is a transverse hole .ati-.to .remix/,epm 39- to retain push button .2.51. from displacement from the. assembly.

. lnmanualmembenl are apairofspacedkeys 4) adapted to fit witl'iin...slots.gIIv of, push button 20 so that when manual member I5 is turned, push button 20 is also turned therewith. This turns pin 35 and Winds spring I2.

In use, a user, just having taken a temperature reading and disinfected the thermometer, desires to return the mercury or the like in the thermometer to normal, so that the thermometer may again be used. The user places the thermometer 26 in the casing 25 and attaches the cap 2l. The user then turns or Winds manual member I5 clockwise. This turns pin 35,'which through loop 36 winds spring I2 to tighten the same. Teeth II are engaged by dog i3 to prevent reverse movement. The user then grasps manual member I5 and presses inwardly on push button 2U. This applies pressure to spring I8 against shoulder I9 and causes relative movement between shaft II and manual member I5 so that teeth Il are moved away from engagement with dog I 3. Spring I2 released, uncoils and whirls body member Iii and holder 22. The thermometer in holder 22 is agitated and the mercury or the like therein is shaken to normal position so that it may be immediately used for obtaining another temperature reading.

It will be noted that stem 2| is hingedly attached to body member I0. In use body member I may be pivoted so that manual member I5 rests against the body portion 24 of casing 25. This permits the user to clip the device to pocket or belt so that the device may be easily carried and then easily removed for future use, as shown in Fig. 1.

In the body member I0 in transverse slot 21, stem 2| of holder- 22 is hingedly mounted. A

cam part 28 of stem 2l rests upon spring 29 which is supported in slot 21 and ends in bore 30 of body member I0. Y y

To retain and anchor the forward end of coil springV I2, an integral long loop portion 3| is set into a deep bore 32 through which a hinge pin 33 is thrust acting to retain the spring l2 and the dog I3.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. -A device adaptedto agitate a thermometer and return the merouryor the like therein to normal position comprising a body member,

a clamp pivotally attached to onev end of 'said body member, a casing for housing a thermometer therein attached to said clamp, a shaft attached to the other end of said body member andextendy ing outwardly therefrom, a coiled spring mounted onV said shaft, a dog attached t0 the inner por-` tion of said spring and said body member, a tubular cover mounted 'on said body member, a hollowfmanual member and having areduced inner portion having a shoulder, said reduced inner portion extending within said coverV and having spaced teeth positioned to contact said dog, a resilient member placed within said manual member, a push button slidably mounted kat 4 2. A thermometer shaker comprising member, means for removably holding a, thermometer attached to said body' member, said body member having a shaft extending therefrom, a coil spring l'surrounding said shaft, a dog attached to one end of said spring and to said body member, a tubular member mounted on said body member and embracing a portion of said shaft, a hollow rotatable ,manual member extending into said tubular member having spaced teeth for engaging said dog, a biased push button slidable in said hollow manual member and rotatable therewith, the other end of said spring being attached to the push button, said push button having a cap which extends over theY endV of the shaft, whereby inward pressure/on said push buttonV causes relative movement between the outer end of said manual member, *said'resilient member extending between said shoulder and push button, a pin attached torsaid push but-v ton, the outer end of said spring being attached to said pin, s aid manual member adapted to be rotated clockwise to tighten said spring, said push button adapted upon inward pressure against said resilientmember yto force saidshaft to move said body member and thereby disengage said spaced teeth from said dog, thereby releasing said spring to uncoil and whirl said body member andsaid casing, whereby mercury orV the like of a thermometer, contained in said casing ris returned to normal position.

said hollow rotatable manual member and said' shaft to disengage said spaced teeth from said clog and thereby uncoiling of the spring when wound'to rotate the body member with its attached thermometer holding means.

. YAARON D. LE SAGE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS n Y Number Name l Date 987,749 l Schneider Mar. 28, 1911 1,024,824 13431113.11u Apr. 30, 1912 1,041,135 McIntyre A Oct. 15, 1912VY FOREIGN PATENTS K Number CountryV` Date Grreatl Britain July l2, 1934 d a body 

